Posts Tagged ‘Record Store Day’

An exclusive seven-inch from Sonic Youth and Beck are the latest offerings for this year’s Record Store Day – a worldwide event in support of independent record stores. The day, April 18th, will see artists joining forces to create exclusive new tracks, live shows, feature bands staffing checkouts, and many more musical goodies.

Over 40 stores in the UK have already signed up and all will be able to sell two split seven-inch singles from the Beggars stable. The first showcases Sonic Youth covering Beck’s ‘Pay No Mind’ and Beck covering their ‘Green Light’. The second will feature Jay Reatard’s ‘Hang Them All’ and Sonic Youth’s ‘No Garage’.

Rough Trade East in London has already confirmed gigs by Sky Larkin and Sunny Day Sets Fire – as well as bands working the tills – for the day, and there’s more to come.

Artists from around the world, from Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows to Ziggy Marley, are adding their voices and faces to the cause. Ronnie from The Killers tells a little tale about a boy, his dad and their indie record store here

Many acts are giving away freebies, such as lyric books from Bruce Springsteen, chocolate from India Irie and special vinyl remixes from Franz Ferdinand.

“I think independent record shops will outlive the music industry,” comments Damon Albarn. “Long term, their value to people is far greater, because even in our era of file-sharing and blogs, you can’t replace the actual look on someone’s face when they are playing something they really rate and think you should listen to it too. It’s special.”

The event has even joined forces with YouTube to create a Record Store Day channel, where all musical fans and independent record store supporters can add their thoughts. Click here to get involved.

Developed in the States by Eric Levin of Atlanta’s Criminal Records and Michael Kurtz of Music Monitor Network, April 18th will be the second time music fans celebrate independently-owned record stores around the globe.